Nike Extravaganza: Under-The-Radar

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>SANTA ANA — The 2025 Nike Extravaganza at Mater Dei high school marked the 30th edition of the prestigious event. This year's field brought together many of California's top programs and players in addition to some out of state participants. In this piece we detail some under the radar prospects we saw in Saturday's action.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='2436262' first='Caden' last='Jones'] | 2027 | Crean Lutheran</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jones is a dual-sport athlete who is the starting quarterback on the Saints' football team and he brings the toughness and IQ of a signal caller onto the hardwood. The 6-foot-2 point guard is a steady ball handler and decision-maker who gets the Crean offense organized, makes smart reads on drives and in ball-screen action and gets the ball into the hands of his teammates where they can be effective.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='2131791' first='Christopher' last='Richardson'] | 2026 | Corona Centennial</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Richardson is coming into his own as a combo guard who can initiate offense, get teammates involved and find his efficient scoring spots when needed. The 5-foot-10 junior pushes the tempo offensively, doesn't over-handle the ball in transition or half-court offense and has a simple offensive game that consists of consistent touch on catch and shoot threes. Richardson knocked down 5 of 7 triples in the Huskies win over St. Augustine.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='1384454' first='David' last='Balogun'] | 2025 | De La Salle</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Balogun looks the part of an edge rusher with his 6-foot-6, 215-pound frame - though he doesn't play football - but has the hands, fluid mobility and footwork that make him an effective interior player on the hardwood. The senior forward/center seals deep post position and creates a big target for guards to throw him post-entry passes. Balogun has the ability to finish with touch or physicality through contact around the basket.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='2323692' first='Dominic' last='Copenhagen'] | 2025 | Eastvale Roosevelt</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Copenhagen often gets overshadowed by the Mustangs' Big Three but his impact on winning is not to be understated. The 6-foot-4 forward, technically, plays the five-spot for Roosevelt and guards the opponents' big man but the senior also switches onto guards which means he needs to know what 1 through 5 do on the scouting report. Copenhagen is your prototypical energy and hustle guy who does the dirty work and he does his job really well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='2425663' first='Jonathan' last='Dzabatou'] | 2026 | Orange Lutheran</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Dazbatou is one of the best athletes in the state and he is starting to add some translatable skill to his sheer explosiveness. The 6-foot-7 junior is a high motor rim-runner and lane-filler in transition who can slash and finish with quick elevation off the floor. While he's best in the open court, Dzabatou flashed some improved ball skills which allowed for straight-line drive buckets at the rim in half-court settings. He finished with 16 points and 10 rebounds in the Lancers' loss to Village Christian.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">Kai Nixon | 2025 | Foothill</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Nixon is a strong and quick 5-foot-10 point guard who pulls all the right strings for the Knights. The senior uses his speed with the ball to get into the lane and kick to open teammates but can slide off the ball and knock down open three-point shots off the catch. Nixon is very measured in his approach to the game and doesn't force much negative action to hurt his team. Nixon finished with 14 points, five assists and five rebounds in a loss to Los Alamitos.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='986960' first='Nick' last='Jefferson'] | 2025 | Bishop Gorman (NV)</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jefferson is the engine that makes Gorman go - and what makes them a top two team in the state of Nevada. The 6-foot point guard is one of the fastest end-to-end players with the ball in his hands and that, combined with his ability to change speeds, makes him a guy who can get paint touches at-will. Jefferson is a savvy finisher around the rim who can also knock down off-bounce jumpers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->